Trouble shooting of modern machine tools equipped with sophisticated electronic as well as mechanical parts is so difficult that it is usually depends upon the experience and accumulated knowledge of the diagnosing persons. On the other hand, tool users are scattered in wide area, which makes it expensive for a machine tool maker to run a vast service network. An unmanned diagnosis system to which users can have access at all times could be an efficient alternative. For this purpose, a rule-based expert system for diagnosing machine tools is developed. This paper describes the structure of diagnostic knowledge, the rule firing mechanism, the diagnosis flow, and user query process. An example shows the feasibility of problem solving on site without help of a service expert from machine tool maker.